UPDATE 11:10 p.m. CST: A Harris County spokesman on the scene has reported the father who was holed up in the Tomball Regional Medical Hospital has now been taken safely into custody. They stated it turned out the man was not armed after all. Previously, Tomball police were reporting the father was armed and the Sheriff’s Office was reporting he was not.
The spokesman said the man allegedly acted in a threatening manner at the beginning of the situation and that is why they were called to the scene. Because they could not confirm if the man was armed, the situation was treated as if he was. No one was hurt during the situation.
UPDATE 10:25 p.m. CST: Ambulances and new emergency room patients are being diverted to Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. KTRK reported the Methodist Hospital officials have confirmed they are ready for the diversions and that they have received patients from three ambulances that were diverted to their location from Tomball. Methodist Willowbrook Hospital is about fifteen minutes from Tomball Regional Medical Hospital.
The situation is currently isolated to the Critical Care Unit located on the second floor of the hospital. A Sheriff’s Office spokesman said they have control of the floor and no hospital employees are in danger.
UPDATE 10:06 p.m. CST: KTRK 13 is reporting a nurse claims to have seen the father pull out a gun as the situation began. It is not known what type of firearm the father is carrying.
UPDATE 9:34 p.m. CST: The situation at Tomball Regional Medical Hospital is no longer being called a hostage situation. Fox 26 Houston is reporting the distraught father is barricaded in the room with his son. They are located in the critical care unit. Police say the father is distraught over his son’s medical condition and is refusing to comply with their commands.
UPDATE 9:05 p.m. CST: The suspect in the Tomball Hospiatal hostage standoff is allegedly barricaded in a room with a person who is believed to be a family member according to KTRK-13. The floor where the situation is occurring has been locked down.
The Tomball Police report hostage negotiations are underway. They believe the suspect is armed. At this time he has not made any demands. The police say no employees of the hospital are being held hostage.
Tomball police, Texas Rangers, Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Deputies and Harris County Sheriff’s Deputies are on the scene.
UPDATE 9:00 p.m. CST: Anoushah Rasta with KPRC-2 is reporting the hospital is not on lockdown and there have been no evacuations. The hospital is not accepting any new patients at this time.
UPDATE 8:40 p.m. CST: KTRK-13 is reporting the hostage taker is a father of a patient at the hospital. He is allegedly distraught and holding at least two people hostage. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office High Risk Operation Unit is on the scene.
Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX), who represents Tomball, tweeted “Keeping all of those in Tomball in my thoughts and prayers.”
A hostage situation is developing at a hospital located in Tomball, Texas, northwest of Houston. The Harris County Sheriff’s office has confirmed the situation according to all major news outlets in Houston.
Breitbart Texas spoke with Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Ron Hickman about the crisis at the Tomball Regional Medical Hospital. Hickman said the Tomball Police Department, Harris County Sheriff’s Office and his deputies have responded to the scene. The Sheriff’s Office is taking the lead and has a SWAT Team and hostage team enroute at this time.
A Tomball police officer said the suspect entered the hospital with a gun according to KHOU-11 in Houston.
It is not known who is involved or how many hostages are being held at this time. A motivation for the situation is also currently unknown.
Bob Price is a senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter: @BobPriceBBTX.
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